Registering for Events:

• Registration for events will open two months before the scheduled date. This is a change from last year as we had issues with too many players not showing up for tournaments. This lets us know how many spots we need and enables us to adjust our player count in advance (when possible). Deadlines for entry will be Wednesday Night at 6:00PM. Any entry received after Wednesday at 6:00PM will be subject to a $15 late fee. Cut off for entry will be Friday at 12:00PM.

• Guarantee your spot with a payment. We do operate on a first-come, first-served basis which means that once we reach the maximum number of paid players (as listed on the Who's Playing List) we will start our waiting list. If there are more players listed than we have listed for available spots, please check to see how many people have paid for the event - only paid players are guaranteed tee times. 

• Watch the Who's Playing List. Registration remains open until the stated deadline OR whenever the field is completed with the maximum number of paid players - whichever occurs first. Each tournament has a Who's Playing List which may be accessed from the schedule tab on the website.

• Adhere to deadlines. Cancellations and withdrawals may be made prior to the published deadlines and must be made via email (Columbia@amateurgolftour.net). Deadlines are based upon course requirements for our final numbers. Refunds/credits will not be honored after the deadline on Wednesday at 6:00PM.

• Pay for events via CashApp, Venmo or PayPal (PayPal will have a $5 additional fee). [Credit Card may be available this year with a fee.]  If payment is not received by the deadline, the player will be removed from the Who's Playing List and our numbers will be adjusted accordingly.  

• Keep in mind - upon registering for an event you will receive an automated email stating you have been registered and payment must be made to secure your spot. This is automatically generated. The process of adding players to the Who's Playing List and marking players as paid on the list are done manually. Please allow 48 hours for your name to appear. Feel free to reach out after 48 hours to check on the status of a registration/payment that does not show on the website. Registrations/payments made over the weekend may be delayed if a tournament is being played that weekend.

Side Games:

• All side games for the season will be paid out following the tournament or you can get it at the next tournament you play in.  

• Skins can be paid day of at the tournament by Cash ONLY.  Skins can also be paid out via Venmo or CashApp (in 2024) but it may take up to the Wednesday following the tournament.

Pairings:

• Pairings will be posted on the Tee Times/Pairings page of the website on Friday evenings for a one-day event and as soon as possible for the second day of a two-day event.

• Pairings are generally based upon flights in order to keep fields close together during the round. Accommodations will be made when possible to enable guests to play with the person bringing them and/or special requests. All requests must be made on the Wednesday the week of the event via email (Columbia@amatuergolftour.net).

• Always check the pairings the night before the event and the morning of the event to ensure you are current with any last minute changes!

Rules and Tee Boxes:

• Local rules take precedence over Tour or USGA rules. If not specified within the Local Rules or Tour Rules, USGA Rules apply.

• Please familiarize yourself with the Tour Manual available online especially if you are a new player.

• Rules sheets will be printed for the day of the event and will be on the cart with your scorecards. 

• Tee boxes are listed on the Tee Times/Pairings page of the website for each event and are generally available the week prior to the tournament. Please understand that last minute changes may be made when necessary due to course conditions/recommendations.

Tournament Check In:

• Please allow sufficient time to check in for each event while allowing time for your personal warm-up and pre-game routines.

• All players must personally check in prior to an event (including the second day of a two-day tournament).

• Please be sure to pick up and read all documents/materials provided the day of a tournament.

 Scoring:

• Each group is required to have one person completing the paper scorecard and one person completing the online LiveScore. Groups are expected to fulfill both duties when asked during a tournament. Please come prepared.

• Every player is responsible for verifying his/her hole-by-hole score on both the paper scorecard and the online scorecard. 

 Pace of Play:

• Every player is responsible for the pace of play for their group and should be aware of their position on the course.

• We have had problems in the past with Pace of Play and the result has been complaints of very long rounds and golf courses not letting us come back.  SLOW PLAY WILL NOT BE TOLERATED. There should be a 40 second time limit for you to do your routine and execute a shot. Otherwise we would have 20 minute holes if the whole group takes more than that time. It's just not acceptable and EVERY player is responsible for this.   

• We are bringing back penalties for slow play in 2024. Each round, there will be a time written on your scorecard to finish your round. If the scorecard is not in the director's hands by that time, the entire group will be subject to penalty (this will be made at the Director's discresion based on the circumstances). 

• Time Pars...

• Lost Balls: The 3-minute time begins when anyone starts looking for the lost ball. This means that if anyone assists you with looking for your ball, your time begins when they looking started. If more than 1 player ball is lost, players MUST look for their own ball first! If more than 1 ball is being looked for, the 3 minutes is not for each ball, but 3 minutes total.

• Each player should identify his ball with a distinctive marking and show it to his playing partners.

  • You must be able to positively identify that the ball you found is not one of the same brand and number that was lost by another player.

  • If you cannot positively identify the ball as yours, then USGA rules deem your ball to be lost. 

  • When putting a new ball in play after a ball is lost or when a ball is used as a provisional, the new ball must be clearly distinguishable from the original ball.

 Issues During an Event:

• When in doubt of a rule, play two balls and get a ruling when you return to the clubhouse. If possible, take a picture of the situation to assist in determining a ruling.

• If an emergency develops on the course, please contact Jared Beard 803-920-0070 or Brad Frick 803-673-1851 immediately.

 Prizes/Event Recaps:

• All prizes will be paid out with Visa Gift Cards. Cash cannot be paid for event winners per the USGA Rules of Golf.

• Gift Cards are available the day of if they are won at a Columbia Local or Major event. 

• Recaps of Columbia events are generally posted on Facebook and the Home Page following the tournament.